How to Stay Motivated at Work by Creating Your Own Reward System

In the work environment, it all seems to be about receiving recognition and compensation for the work we do. Great bosses know this, but there are so many others which are … clueless.

How do you keep motivated to do great work when your boss isn’t being much of a help?

One answer is to go ahead and create your own recognition and rewards for a job well done. Here are some great examples I’ve seen people use:

Set a goal for yourself, and when you achieve it, buy yourself a coffee.

After working with someone else on an important task, go have lunch together so you can reflect on the value of what you’ve done together.

Let someone know what you’ve done who might be able to get some value from it.

Ask for a little moral support from your spouse or partner.

Write “attaboy!” on a sticky note and put it on your mirror.

Sometimes this can be incredibly simple: I’ve known people who get a little “rush” from just checking something off their to-do list. To be honest, this is one of the reasons why I track my progress every day – because it helps me to feel good about what I’m achieving.

Even if you do have a great boss who sees the value in rewarding good work, you can help them succeed by letting them know the progress you’re making. It doesn’t have to feel like bragging and shameless self-promotion; simply letting them know what you’ve accomplished will be good enough to help you towards a more positive motivation.

And, of course, you know what kinds of rewards give you the greatest satisfaction!